HARRISBURG — In an ironic twist, Pennsylvania’s state park system — imperiled by 2009-2010 budget proposals — is one of four finalists for the 2009 National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management.

Even as the park system receives national praise, state legislators are wrangling over a proposed budget that could slash funding for parks and result in the closing of 35 of the state’s 117 parks — including Raymond B. Winter, near Mifflinburg.

The state’s parks have become pawns in the give and take between political parties, the Legislature and the governor to produce a budget.

The state House Appropriations Committee on Monday rejected a $27.3 billion Senate Republican budget proposal that — like spending plan proposals from Democrats, including Gov. Ed Rendell — included deep cuts to programs. The budget deadline is June 30.

On Thursday, Rep. Russell Fairchild, R-85, of Lewisburg, said the state House and Senate are waiting for the governor to announce his cuts to balance his budget.

“Our hands are tied until he takes that step,” Fairchild said. “Once that’s in place, the process can begin.”

Fairchild said the Legislature will look over the governor’s proposed list of additions and deletions from his February budget proposal and negotiate for services such as state parks.

Fairchild was skeptical that the governor would close state parks.

“It’s running its course and backfiring on the governor,” he said of the uproar over the proposal to close a third of the state parks.

Despite the political maneuvering under way, state park and state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources employees are pleased that their work has received national attention.

“We’re doing innovative things,” said Chris Novak, DCNR spokeswoman. “We’re reaching out to young people, to people in the cities.

“Our staff is excellent. We owe a debt to the conservation leaders and visionaries who have gone on before us. We want to maintain and improve our parks. We want them to have a future.”

Novak said a video highlighting Pennsylvania’s programs is being prepared for submission to the National Recreation and Parks Association in advance of the award presentation next fall.

The Gold Medal Award is given by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration and the National Recreation and Park Association.

The winner will be announced at the association’s annual meeting in Utah in October. The other finalists are the state park systems in Georgia, Michigan and North Carolina.